Detection of traffic from a relayed device in a communications network

Abstract

A method for detecting and handling traffic from relayed or tethered devices in a communications network. The method includes obtaining at a terminal device network address information for a relayed device; transmitting from the terminal device traffic received from the relayed device, wherein the network traffic includes the network address information; and determining that the traffic relates to the relayed device based on the network address information. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving at the terminal device an indication that the network address information shall be obtained for the relayed devices connected to the terminal device. In some embodiments, the method further includes transmitting from the terminal device an indication of the capability of the terminal device to obtain the network address information for relayed devices.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method performed by a terminal device for detecting and handling traffic from relayed or tethered devices in a communications network, the method comprising:
 obtaining at a terminal device from a first network node network address information for a relayed device, wherein the terminal device acts as a relay for the relayed device; and   transmitting from the terminal device toward a second network node network traffic received from the relayed device, wherein the network traffic includes the network address information   wherein the network address information is an IP address, an IP address range or an IP address prefix.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving at the terminal device from the first network node an indication that the network address information shall be obtained for the relayed devices connected to the terminal device, particularly wherein the indication is transmitted during the attachment or registration of the terminal device with the communications network or during the establishment of a user session with the communications network; and   initiating at the terminal device the obtaining of the network address information for the relayed devices connected to the terminal device based on the indication.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 transmitting from the terminal device to the first network node an indication of the capability of the terminal device to obtain the network address information for relayed devices, particularly wherein the indication is transmitted during the attachment or registration of the terminal device with the communications network or during the establishment of a user session with the communications network.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 transmitting from the terminal device to the first network node an indication to release the network address information related to the relayed device, particularly wherein the indication is transmitted responsive to the disconnection of the relayed device to the terminal device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the obtaining of the network address information is performed in response to the connection of the relayed device to the terminal device. 
     
     
         20 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the relayed device is a tethered device connected to the terminal device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first network node is an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF, the second network node is a User Plane Function, UPF, and the terminal device is a User Equipment, UE. 
     
     
         24 . A method performed by a first network node for detecting and handling traffic from relayed or tethered devices in a communications network, the method comprising:
 transmitting from a first network node to a terminal device network address information for a relayed device, wherein the terminal device acts as a relay for the relayed device   wherein the network address information is an IP address, an IP address range or an IP address prefix.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 transmitting from the first network node to the terminal device an indication that the network address information shall be obtained for the relayed devices connected to the terminal device, particularly wherein the indication is transmitted during the attachment or registration of the terminal device with the communications network or during the establishment of a user session with the communications network.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 receiving at the first network node from the terminal device an indication of the capability of the terminal device to obtain the network address information for relayed devices, particularly wherein the indication is transmitted during the attachment or registration of the terminal device with the communications network or during the establishment of a user session with the communications network; and   transmitting from the first network node to a third network node the indication of the capability of the terminal device to obtain the network address information for relayed devices, particularly wherein the indication is transmitted during the establishment of a user session with the communications network.   
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 receiving at the first network node from the terminal device an indication to release the network address information related to the relayed device, particularly wherein the indication is transmitted responsive to the disconnection of the relayed device to the terminal device; and   transmitting from the first network node to the third network node the indication to release the network address information related to the relayed device.   
     
     
         29 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the relayed device is a tethered device connected to the terminal device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first network node is an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF, the third network node is a Session Management Function, SMF, and the terminal device is a User Equipment, UE. 
     
     
         34 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . An apparatus for detecting and handling traffic from relayed or tethered devices in a communications network, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor such that the apparatus is operable to perform operations comprising:
 obtain at a terminal device from a first network node network address information for a relayed device, wherein the terminal device acts as a relay for the relayed device; and   transmit from the terminal device toward a second network node network traffic received from the relayed device, wherein the network traffic includes the network address information   wherein the network address information is an IP address, an IP address range or an IP address prefix.   
     
     
         45 . An apparatus for detecting and handling traffic from relayed or tethered devices in a communications network, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor such that the apparatus is operable to perform operations comprising:
 transmit from a first network node to a terminal device network address information for a relayed device, wherein the terminal device acts as a relay for the relayed device   wherein the network address information is an IP address, an IP address range or an IP address prefix.   
     
     
         46 - 50 . (canceled)